HIGH COUNCIL

The High Council (HC) of the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) is the highest decision making body. As per the charter of the ADF, the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), is the Chairperson of the HC. Besides, the HC also has the Hon’ble Deputy Minister of Finance, GIRoA; Hon’ble Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Technical Affairs), GIRoA; a Representative of USAID; Managing Director/CEO of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry(ACCI); a Non-Governmental Specialist in Banking and Finance (to be nominated by the Da Afghanistan Bank, the central bank); and a Non-Governmental Specialist in Agricultural Affairs (to be nominated by the Ministry of Higher Education), as its members. At present, the following are the Members of the HC of ADF.

Mr. Durrani is a highly experienced leader of Afghanistan. He is an Engineering Graduate from Kabul University. In addition, he holds a Master Degree in Development and Reconstruction from Nebraska University, USA. He has worked with a number of national and international institutions. As a Technocrat, Mr. Durrani has worked in the Ministry of Mines & Petroleum and the Ministry of Public Works. He has also served as the Director, Afghanistan Energy Sector Assessment Project with French Super Gas Company. He has also been instrumental in the successful implementation of a number of development programs, aimed at alleviating poverty in the rural areas of Afghanistan. Prior to taking over as the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mr. Durrani has held the portfolios of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and was also the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

Mr. Moeen Ud Din Siraj is a renowned agricultural professional and is working with the FAO, as the Head of Operations for Technical Cooperation Programme (including GEF, GCF and Resilience Programme) in Afghanistan. He holds M.Sc. (Honours) and M.Phil. degrees in Agriculture Sciences. Besides, he also has a Masters in Leadership Development and a MBA. He has been a regular contributor to the scientific agricultural literature and his papers have been published in a number of international/national scientific journals. He is also a peer reviewer of many international/national scientific journals and has received a number of awards for his distinguished work in the agricultural sector. He has more than 18 years experiences in Academia, Private Sector, Research & Development Organizations, NGOs and Inter-Governmental Agencies (like the WWF, ICARDA, CIP, OPEC, CGIAR, FAO). Some of the major areas of his work in the agricultural sector include Research & Extension, Programme Development, Technical Cooperation, Management & Operations, M&E for Results, etc. He is one of the pioneers of certified seed production, introduction of tissue culture and commissioning of quality control/ tissue culture laboratories in Afghanistan.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Khan is a professional banker and has more than a decade’s experience in the banking & finance sector in Afghanistan, both with the central bank and the commercial banks. Mr. Khan is a Ph.D. Finance (Islamic Finance) candidate and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master Degree (M.Sc.) in Banking and Finance. He has attended a number of training and certification programs in the areas of risk management, banking and trade finance, conducted by different central banks and reputed banking institutes in various countries. At present, Mr. Khan is working as the Executive Vice-President and the Chief Risk Officer with the Afghanistan International Bank (AIB), which he joined in 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Khan served Da Afghanistan Bank (the central bank) in various capacities. He was the Deputy Director General of Risk Management Department, Deputy Director General of Financial Supervision Department and the Head of Islamic Banking Division, besides overseeing the functions pertaining to the banking for small businesses, trade finance and business & commercial banking. He is a very active finance professional and continues to hold important positions on a number of committees in the banking sector in Afghanistan. He is the Chairperson of the Risk Management Committee and the Vice-Chairman of the Islamic Banking Steering Committee of the Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA), besides being an active member of its ALCO, Compliance and Product & Channel Committees. He is also a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Afghanistan and the Banking Commission.